Domaine Chignard

Even
after many successful years practicing his craft, fourth-generation vigneron Michel Chignard claims to be a
novice. He is a modest man, kind and courteous, but in every aspect of his
winemaking one clearly sees a passionate perfectionist. In 2007 Michel turned
the management of the family domaine over to his son Cédric, who is carrying on
this philosophy with great pride and has already managed to prove himself in
his first few vintages. The Chignard family is also blessed with vineyards in
one of the best sites of the Fleurie appellation, Les Moriers, an arrowhead-shaped parcel that juts right down into
Moulin-à-Vent vines. Their eight hectares of vineyards are over sixty years
old, keeping yields naturally low. These old-vine root systems also run very
deep, accessing minerals from the granite subsoil and giving Chignard’s Fleurie
a trademark goût de terroir and great
freshness.

While
many critics attribute Michel’s success to the soil, Kermit would argue that
his traditionalist stance on vineyard management and winemaking is essential to
craft such great wines. As ardent defenders of traditional Beaujolais methods,
the Chignards take a minimalist approach in both the vineyards and the cellar.
The finished wines couldn’t be more reflective of Les Moriers’ splendid location: light and playful, with deep, ripe fruit and finesse. The Chignard's have recently started making wine from another Beaujolais cru, Juliénas, which produces a beautiful, high-toned wine in keeping with the style of the domaine. La Revue du Vin
claims that the aromas from their wines evoke memories of the great
Chambolle-Musignys from Burgundy, to the North…but who’s to say, maybe they got
it reversed.

Technical Information

Wine

Blend

Vine Age

Soil Type

Vineyard Area*

FleurieLes Moriers

Gamay

> 60 yrs

Granite

8 ha

Julienas Beauvernay

Gamay

> 60 yrs

Granite

N/A

* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres

VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION

• All grapes are harvested
by hand

• Vinification is natural,
in keeping with the local tradition, including whole cluster fermentation, and vatting
for 6 to 8 days before pressing

• Fermentation takes place
in stainless steel and cement cuves

• Wine is aged in old foudres (large oak barrels) for 13
months

• Blending occurs in the
spring, and then the wine settles for 3-4 months before bottling.

• Wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered

Fleurie Les Moriers :

• Vineyards are planted at a density of 10,000 vines per
hectare

• The name Les Moriers comes from the word “mûrier” or mulberry tree. This area used to be planted with mulberry trees, the preferred food of silkworms. The land was once used to produce silk fabric.Julienas Beauvernay :
• The exact etymology of the name Beauvernay is unknown but the Chignard family has uncovered a few possible origins. The historical name for the hill on which this parcel resides is the “Côte de Beauvernay.” At the base of this hill, there is a small river and along the banks you’ll find “Verne” trees, a type of Alder. The hillside was therefore named for the trees at the base and the addition of “beau” is simply a term of endearment-hill with beautiful Alders or hill with beautiful view of Alders.

MISCELLANEA

This is
not simply a Fleurie, it is Fleurie “Les Moriers,” and les Moriers is a steep
vineyard that penetrates down into the Moulin-à-Vent zone. The result is like a
marriage of the two. That explosive, floral Fleurie character emerges from an
intense, regal, tannic, Moulin-à-Vent chassis. It is loaded with flavor and has
an intense palate feel.